Parliament - Opposition parties will on Tuesday propose that the National Assembly adopt a report obliging President Jacob Zuma to reimburse some of the State spending on his Nkandla home, as an alternative to a report the ANC muscled through earlier this month which clears him of any obligation to do so.
Democratic Alliance chief whip John Steenhuisen said the ANC had used the three special parliamentary committees set up to deal with Nkandla to whitewash the president’s role in excessive spending on his private home and to undermine the findings of Public Protector Thuli Madonsela.
“From the first ad hoc committee established during the Fourth Parliament, to this, the third iteration, the ANC has used its majority to deflect any and all liability from President Zuma and undermine the Public Protector, Advocate Thuli Madonsela.”
The alternative report urges that Zuma implement the remedial action set out in her report, which found that he had unduly benefitted from the upgrade and pay a reasonable amount, determined with the help of National Treasury and the police, that covers the swimming pool, cattle kraal and amphitheatre added to the property at inflated cost.
The tug of war between Zuma and Madonsela over Nkandla saw the president appoint Police Minister Nathi Nhleko to determine instead whether he should repay anything.
The minister concluded he did not as the new features all served a critical security purpose, with the swimming pool doing double duty as a fire pool.
“Minister Nhleko’s report – effectively rubber-stamped by the ANC in the committee – is completely at odds with due process and our Constitution, and should have been declared irrational by Parliament. Tomorrow (Tuesday) is our last chance to do so,” said Steenhuisen.
“We therefore appeal, today, to all members of the National Assembly – especially those within the ANC – to exercise their consciences and support the deletion and substitution of the Nkandla whitewash report with the DA’s minority report.
Opposition parties are planning to mount a legal challenge, based on the argument that Parliament is usurping the powers of the Public Protector, should the ANC refuse to change its mind.
The Economic Freedom Fighters, who boycotted the committee, are trying to launch a direct Constitutional Court challenge but it is unclear whether the court will agree to hear the matter.
No debate on the ad hoc committee’s report is scheduled for Tuesday in the National Assembly but opposition MPs will make a declaration before its likely adoption.
ANA